Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies
(a) Assessing Affirmative Marketing Needs
Recipient plans shall identify the group(s) "least likely to apply" to the housing through the submission of relevant demographic data. Data may be derived from the U.S. Census, municipal sources, regional planning agencies, civil rights groups, fair housing officers, social service agencies, and like organizations. Source documentation shall be clearly identified.
(b) Affirmative Marketing Outreach
(1) Mechanisms - Recipients' plans shall determine and identify the most appropriate outreach mechanisms which should include: newspaper, radio, television, and other media advertisements as well as flyers and announcements to social service agencies and other organizations with the desire and capacity to inform potential applicants of the availability of housing. These mechanisms or organizations shall represent those most likely to be read, heard, seen by, or in contact with applicants least likely to apply.
(2) Locale - Recipients' plans shall provide for the dissemination of information at a minimum in (a) the largest city located in the nearest Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area or Areas or Metropolitan Statistical Area or Areas, (b) the regional planning area, and (c) any other areas which are likely to contain high minority populations and where public transportation or public highways and/or job availability make it likely that minorities might wish to move where the development is located.
(3) Time frame - Recipients' plans shall identify the time frame, duration, and frequency of the materials to be announced or distributed. At a minimum affirmative fair housing marketing shall begin prior to general marketing. There shall be at least three (3) documented efforts with updated materials as necessary: the first at the beginning of construction; the second at approximately 50 percent completion; and the final, six to eight weeks prior to completion.
(4) Notice of Intent to Begin Marketing - Recipients are required to give notice to the department no later than 90 days prior to engaging in sales or rental marketing activities.
(5) Prominence - Recipients' plans shall provide that any materials shall be prominently displayed or appear where they are most likely to be read or seen, e.g. not in the "legal notices" section of the paper but in more prominent ads.
(6) Content - Recipients' plans shall identify the content of the materials to be used which at a minimum shall: (a) identify the location of the housing; (b) provide a narrative description of the housing; (c) identify when the application process shall begin and end; (d) be neutral in the sense of encouraging all potentially eligible applicants to apply; (e) include a contact person and telephone number; (f) display the fair housing logo and clearly state the owner's commitment to Fair Housing and non-discrimination; (g) where relevant, be provided in both English and Spanish; (h) where there is any advertising depicting persons, depict persons of both sexes and persons of majority and minority groups; (i) describe the application and selection process as stated in Section 8-37ee-304 and Section 8-37ee-305 of these regulations; and (j) include the fair housing policy statement as stated in Section 8-37ee-311 below.
(7) Community contacts - Recipients' plans shall identify community contacts which shall include individuals and organizations that are well known in the area who can reach and assist those least likely to apply. These may include church groups, housing counseling groups, legal services organizations, labor unions, minority and women's organizations, shelters, social service agencies, housing authorities, and town officials. Each of these entities shall receive appropriate materials as described in subsection (5) with additional instructions, if necessary.
(8) Counseling and application assistance - Recipients' plans shall provide that either the contact person or a housing counseling organization, fair housing officer, or other similar party is trained in fair housing and its requirements and is ready and willing to assist all applicants including the least likely to apply with the application process.
(9) Follow-up - Recipients' plans shall provide for follow-up meetings or telephonic reports from the various outreach organizations listed in subsection (7) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the affirmative marketing. Where organizations determine that few potential applicants are displaying an interest, alternative approaches should be considered.
(10) Public inspection - Recipient approved plans shall be available for public inspection.
(Effective February 2, 1994)